23.3.10

PRINCE OF WALES AND CAMILLA JOIN WORSHIPERS FOR SUNDAY MASS


CHURCHGOERS FROM A PRAGUE CHURCH WERE JOINED BY TWO UNEXPECTED WORSHIPERS RECENTLY, THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL. THE ROYAL COUPLE JOINED BRITISH AND AMERICAN EX-PATS WHO FILLED THE SIMPLE WOODEN PEWS OF THE 15th CENTURY GOTHIC BUILDING ON SUNDAY. THE CHURCH'S CHAPLAIN REVEREND RICKY YATES GREETED THE ROYALS AT THE STEPS OF ST CLEMENT'S IN THE CAPITAL OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. HE LATER TOLD THE CONGREGATION AFTER THE ROYALS HAD BEEN SEATED IN THE FRONT PEW: 'MAY I WELCOME WITH GREAT PLEASURE THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSESS, THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL, WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR WORSHIP AS PART OF THEIR FOUR DAY TRIP.' WHENEVER A ROYAL VISIT RUNS OVER INTO A WEEKEND CHARLES NORMALLY ATTENDS A CHURCH SERVICE IN THE COUNTRY HE IS VISITING. THE COUPLE ARE COMING TO AN END OF A NINE-DAY TOUR OF EASTERN EUROPE THAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN IN POLAND AND HUNGARY. WHEN THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION WERE CALLED FORWARD TO ATTEND SUNDAY SCHOOL A GROUP OF THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS GATHERED IN FRONT OF CHARLES AND CAMILLA, WITH THE PROTESTS OF ONE LITTLE BOY IGNORED BY HIS PARENTS. THE REV YATES'S SERMON FOCUSED ON PASSION SUNDAY, THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT. CHARLES AND CAMILLA JOINED THE WORSHIPERS IN SINGING HYMNS WHICH INCLUDED THE TRADITIONAL SONG 'FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT'. CHURCHWARDEN GERRY TURNER, A 63 YEAR OLD BRITISH EX-PAT AND TRANSLATOR WHO HAS LIVED IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR 22 YEARS, SAID PRAYERS FOR LEADING FIGURES INCLUDING THE QUEEN AND THE ROYAL FAMILY. AFTER THE SERVICE, HE SAID: 'EVERYONE IS CHUFFED TO HAVE HAD THE PRINCE AND DUCHESS HERE, ESPECIALLY THE AMERICANS.'

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